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Introduction of the New City Manager

Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: City Council
Forum Description: Discuss individual members and council as a legislative body.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5735
Printed Date: Nov 22 2024 at 3:19pm


Topic: Introduction of the New City Manager
Posted By: acclaro
Subject: Introduction of the New City Manager
Date Posted: May 17 2014 at 8:15pm
By far....the vastly superior candidate to be city manager.  Welcome aboard Ms. Howington.

Don't blow it council.


  

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'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill



Replies:
Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: May 17 2014 at 8:45pm
I agree Ms. Howington was by far the most qualified,the most experienced and probably the most articulate. Though, It kills me to say this Adkins did say all the right things council wanted to hear. I find it astounding that council has such short memories from council meetings when Adkins lied to them about HUD and then again about the Bank One deal. As you said DONT BLOW IT,,If they pick Adkins then it is clear that ALL of council needs to GO. IMO


Posted By: luke
Date Posted: May 17 2014 at 9:10pm
Not a chance on Adkins. Please, get real.




Posted By: Cooper
Date Posted: May 17 2014 at 9:18pm
Striking resemblance.






Posted By: bumper
Date Posted: May 17 2014 at 9:33pm
i'll bet ya that they WILL blow-it !!! and pick the lying one!!


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 17 2014 at 9:34pm
WARNING to City Council

If you choose Dougie I WILL march on City Hall




Posted By: Cooper
Date Posted: May 17 2014 at 10:20pm
Did Les play Norm in Office Space?






Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: May 17 2014 at 10:39pm
There is only one candidate whom I am convinced would desire to grow the TAX BASE not the TAX RATE, and that is Ms. Howington in my opinion. 

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'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 7:58am
Thumbs Up  I second this motion....she is the most qualified of the group


Posted By: bumper
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 12:19pm
Ms. Howington is the top choice to run the ship!! with les and doug running neck to neck in last place! she would need to kick these 2 to the curb along with marty and the rest of non-qualified gang! no need for judy to stick around, Ms. Howington would be the one training her!! so i see no chance of the main street bosses or the MMF's gang letting her come in from the outside running their ship.IMO 


Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 4:10pm
Won't surprise me, given past decisions, that they choose either Landen or Adkins......

Will surprise me if they make the correct choice in Howington. If so, I hope she will be strong enough to stand up to the inner power circle of influence. Daunting task to take down what has been in place for so long.

I believe they will keep it all in the family and select one of their own. Howington may not fall in line with the city agenda or, as she will have access, discover some hidden agenda items not meant for public scrutiny and stop some of the internal practices currently in place. Hopefully, given time, she may discover what has been revealed on this forum and some city building residents may be fast tracked on the way out. Let's hope so. We shall see.

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I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.


Posted By: AKBobby
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 4:36pm
you guys are funny. you read something online or in the paper and decide immediately that is the best candidate. I happen to have some friends in Oxford who say Howington is one who doesn't work well with others and alientates anyone who doesn't agree with her. I don't know anything about the other two candidates from outside but they have both been fired or asked to resign elsewhere.

Now, with that being said is she better than Adkins or Landen? Maybe, who knows? But acting like Howington is the greatest choice based on what she said in an interview is comical. Anyone can look good in an interview.

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AK - What is going on with that?


Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 5:21pm
Did any one else think in Doug's speech that he pretty much threw council and especially Judy under the bus. He said he just does what his boss tells him to do. That's Judy!! Oh well since she's leaving I guess he figured he could throw her under the bus. It might be kind of funny if she fired him before he could become city manager.LOL


Posted By: SEEKING THE TRUTH
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 6:29pm
I believe that with all of the lawsuits being filed on the city and MPHA Doug is makingit clear that Judy is the boss the aadministrator of section 8. This would be a creative out for him he is a attorney and has more at stake than a retiring city manager what I would find funny if the Council fired both of them for loosing the MPHA program to butler county that is what needs to be done.


Posted By: SEEKING THE TRUTH
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 6:31pm
Middletown Public Housing Agency Meeting Minutes June 29, 2010 complete the abatement, the unit is in violation of HQS standards until the reduction is complete and no HAP payments will be made until the abatement is complete and passes lead based paint clearance is submitted.  F. HQS INSPECTIONS ‐ consider moving initial HQS inspections away from the Inspection Group and have City of Middletown Building Inspectors complete initial HQS inspections.  Pros       Provides a check and balance on lead based  paint law compliance and property   maintenance code compliance  Cons A property can pass the HQS inspection but fail the Int’l Property Maintenance Code Additional load of about 20 inspections per  month on the City Inspector. Mr. Adkins explained that Tom Huiet, City Inspector is certified to do these types of inspections.  He recommends moving the initial inspections away from The Inspection Group and have City inspectors complete initial HQS inspections.  Ms. Scott Jones wanted a breakdown of how much Mr. Huiet would be paid if these were brought in house.  She voiced concerns of needing both The Inspection Group and City Inspectors and stated we should be able to get rid of one.  She asked for a comparison of everything The Inspection Group currently does and a comparison of what would be taken away.  She would rather have somebody in house if they have the expertise.  Discussion ensued.  Ms. Scott Jones asked to see what The Inspection Group is currently doing, what would bringing it in house take away from them and what Mr. Huiet would be paid.  Recommendation: Move the initial inspections away from The Inspection Group and have City of Middletown Building Inspectors complete initial HQS Inspections.  G. TENANTS – There are currently 111 Section 8 tenants that owe the City water bills.  The current policy calls for termination of assistance for participants who violate the family obligations under the program.  The problem in the past has not been with terminating violators, it has been with finding violators and notifying CONSOC of the violation Pros        Cons Middletown Water Billing Dept. will collect past due Section 8 water bills or tenant will be removed from HCV program. Computer scanning already in place to find criminal/ program violations. Discussion ensued regarding Tenant/Landlord responsibilities for water bills.  


Posted By: SEEKING THE TRUTH
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 6:38pm
Citizens of middletown were mislead to believe that they had to pay a debt or they were going to be terminated off section 8 in Middletown next time Doug do your homework and quit singling out landlords for prosecution on false charges so is there still a MPD section 8 black opps squad or now that section 8 is being given to butler county is the money all gone.


Posted By: SEEKING THE TRUTH
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 6:47pm
Before all this is over the Ohio Bar will have a full detailed report on any attorney with knowledge of this malicious abuse of power you can hide behind the city and point fingers all you want come clean boys.


Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 6:54pm
AKBobby, there is no comparison between the depth of Ms. Howington's experience and education than any candidate of the five. She has a Master's degree from Miami's Public Administration department, as hard as the MBA Farmer program.

The current council in Newport rave about her capabilities, and a council member with 10 years experience stated she was by far, the most qualified city manager in the 10 years, and 3 candidates  he had interviewed.

Additionally, she has the most real time, on the job training and experience, by far, as a city manager.

To suggest either Adkins or Landen are in the same league is misguided and nonsensical. Neither have any city manager experince, Adkins was a prosecutor, and Landen, a city lawyer. To even suggest either are worthy based upon current experience is so completely naive and fool hardy, nothing further needs to be said.

I would be more concerned if any of these suggestions I have read, with nothing coming to fruition, that something amiss came out of the section 8 audit. If Adkins needs a job, council will make him city manager just so he has a job for doing their bidding on reducing section 8. Although the damage to Middletown's reputation has already occurred, and the city is tarnished, even if they had 0 vouchers.

I suspect there are a lot of secrets council doesn't want out, hence, disqualifying Ms. Howington. The other two outsiders just are not adequately experienced. Finally, on Ms. Howington, she also was given an offer within the past month, she rejected. I disagree with your assertion she was not qualified. On the contrary, she is the only one whom is.

If Adkins gets it, it will because of what is stated above.

An awful lot of talk about Adkins and the HUD review, but the fact he is in the final selection seem to demonstrate the city has a different recollection of events than what is stated about it being moved, and the final outcome.  I am starting to feel this is a Shakespeare play called "Much Ado About Nothing", as there is nothing to show section 8 has been moved, nor that Doug Adkins was negatively impacted by the audit.               


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'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill


Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 7:06pm
Meet the new boss.....
Same as the old boss....


Posted By: SEEKING THE TRUTH
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 7:42pm
This city needs a new start with a fresh new manager I would agree bring in the best candidate to do the job that needs done let's get started.


Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 8:18pm
sj....I agree. The new boss is Adkins, just like the old boss, Gilleland, just like her old boss, Husemann, just like his former peer, Becker. Funny Mr. Mulligan says CHANGE in his state of the union, but there will be the need to have "secrets" protected by changing to a city manager that is hush hush.

This council makes many miss even Schiavone, Williams, and gang.

Ms. Howington deserves better.   
 

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'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill


Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 8:24pm
Can't have their secrets coming out. Have to keep their back room and hush hush deals quite.


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 8:52pm

I would be more concerned if any of these suggestions I have read, with nothing coming to fruition, that something amiss came out of the section 8 audits. If Adkins needs a job, council will make him city manager just so he has a job for doing their bidding on reducing section 8.
HUD vs MPHA is still an on going legal case therefore I can not obtained any records under the Freedom of Information Act until this case is completed.
MPHA has 1662 Section 8 Vouchers…period…Adkins has not reduced anything…he 
simply did not allow another tenant to move in when a unit became available.

When HUD moves all 1662 voucher to Warren and Butler counties they will once again open the voucher program and fill all 1662 vouchers…NOTHING HAS BEEN REDUCED…NOTHING HAS CHANGED…the only thing that will change is where the HUD checks will be sent the first of the month and that will be to Warren and Butler counties. The only other thing that has changed is the balance of the checkbook at City Hall where they had to pay out for all these attorney fees  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
Although the damage to
Middletown's reputation has already occurred, and the city is tarnished, even if they had 0 vouchers.

I suspect there are a lot of secrets council doesn't want out, hence, disqualifying Ms. Howington. The other two outsiders just are not adequately experienced. Finally, on Ms. Howington, she also was given an offer within the past month, she rejected. I disagree with your assertion she was not qualified. On the contrary, she is the only one whom is.

If Adkins gets it, it will because of what is stated above. 

An awful lot of talk about Adkins and the HUD review, but the fact he is in the final selection seem to demonstrate the city has a different recollection of events than what is stated about it being moved, and the final outcome.  I am starting to feel this is a Shakespeare play called "Much Ado About Nothing", as there is nothing to show section
8 has been moved, nor that Doug Adkins was negatively impacted by the audit.
HUD will not make a statement, if they even do it then, about what has occurred here in Middletown until this legal case is resolved. HUD does not want to have their name in the paper associated with all this negative press coverage that they have received from Middletown.
However we do know that the contract with Chase Construction, who conducted the inspection of the Section 8 units, has not had their contract renewed.
I would presume the final date of this massive transfer would be on or before
June 30, 2014              



Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 9:06pm
OVER THE HILL - Did any one else think in Doug's speech that he pretty much threw council and especially Judy under the bus. He said he just does what his boss tells him to do. That's Judy!! Oh well since she's leaving I guess he figured he could throw her under the bus. It might be kind of funny if she fired him before he could become city manager.LOL

Over the Hill
I don't think when all those DISCRIMANATION LAW SUITS hit City Hall that Mr Adkins can use the defense of “the devil made me do it or Miss Judy demand that I do it”.



Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 9:09pm
I am confused. Are you stating the 1662 vouchers will go to Warren and Butler or the ADMINISTRATION?

The city of Middletown makes less than $150,000 yearly on administration.

If you are stating the 1662 vouchers go.....isn't that a win for Adkins and city council?  
If that is the case, then its obvious why Adkins is in the running for city manager, as many wanted the voucher reduction.

From what you are stating, Adkins will be city manager before the HUD change.


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'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill


Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 10:59pm
Acclaro: the number of vouchers will remain the same in Middletown (1662) the city will no longer have control over the program and they will no longer get the HUD money they were getting to run the program. They also will be missing some other HUD money in the form of CDBG NSP funds. You know the ones they like to move around to use else where for other projects.so no I wouldn't call it a win because you didn't reduce the number of vouchers and you also lost all the extra HUD money. So no Ms. Judy and Dougie failed. But then again he can always spin it to them about how much more he can do. Remember when he told council "we haven't done any thing wrong" "they have to charge us with something" No Dougie you're wrong ,they told you you were "not in compliance " that means you're not doing the right thing. That's how HUD WORKS. If you are to stupid to figure that out... But then he's not stupid that how he spun it to council and they bought it. IMO


Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: May 18 2014 at 11:09pm
So, with new admin, that already exists, Adkins will need a job. So...he will get city manager.

New boss.....same as old boss.

 


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'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill


Posted By: Perplexed
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 1:14am
How does anyone in their right mind conclude that the transfer of the HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program to the Butler Metropolitan Housing Authority would be a feather in the cap of a Community Revitalization Department staff member? The units to be transferred to BHMA is 1662, or, the current number administered by Middletown Public Housing Authority. What makes anyone think that non-Middletown segments of Warren and Butler Counties will clamor for Section 8 units to be transferred there? And, what about the 10% of HCV funds that is earmarked for administrative purposes? Yes, there are likely less than $150,000 in funds utilized by the city. And, what about the funds paid to Nelson Associates, etc., etc. Please be advised that there's much, much more than $150,000+/- involved to set the record straight. It's illogical for anyone to presume that the transfer of the Section 8 program is something to be considered favorable for one current city staff candidate for City Manager.


Posted By: AKBobby
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 7:23am
Agreed with most of what you said but there are many people who work for the city who have their master degrees. Some are in fire and police and some are spread throughout the city building. Doesn't make them good candidates for CM. But I do agree with the experience factor. Personally I think all five candidates are weak. Maybe they should reopen the whole thing.

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AK - What is going on with that?


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 7:46am

Yes  sir, City Hall said they only get about $150,000 for the Section 8 Program…
I can’t wait for you to see the tap dance they are going to do to cover up this big lie.Confused
Keep your eye on the bouncing red ball folks….



Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 8:17am

Perplexed
You are sooo correct…
.Warren County will receive all Section 8 Vouchers that are located East of Dixie Hwy. That area would include the large Robin Spring complex.
Warren County is NOT HAPPY to say the least…

Unlike Middletown they do NOT want to be the Section 8 capital of Ohio



Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 8:46am

Wait, wait…do you hear that strange noise…That big sucking sound is all those HUD Funds leaving the City of Middletown coffer’s.
Yes. sir now you will see who has really benefited from all that HUD poor peoples money.

FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING IN "SLUMVILLE USA" AND GETTING WELFARE CHECKS EVERY SEVERAL MONTHS FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERMENTS TO KEEP THIS CITY OPERATING.   

JUST THINK.... IN 15 SHORT YEARS THESE IDIOTS HAVE COMPLETLY DESTROYED OUR HOME TOWN
THEY HAVE DONE SUCH A FINE JOB....HELL YES GIVE THEM MORE MONEY AND ANOTHER RAISE!



Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 9:10am
I am sorry....but I am totally confused.

It was stated there is pending investigation and  an open audit by HUD which prevents any information from being available from the HUD audit, and yet there are statements made about an outcome, non published to date, about 1662 vouchers which will remain and transfer to the current program out of Middletown to two county programs. How was that decision determined? HUD or the city?

Secondly, I have read Marty Kohler and Dr. Price worked in tandem to raise HUD Section 8 vouchers; the same vouchers Nancy Nix, Noah Powers, Tony Marconi, others, denies, or all sitting council a few years ago  but Marty Kohler still works for the city and the levy nearly passed, when many claim it was the vouchers that undermioed MCSD performance. Why was Marty Kohler not fired?

Thirdly, I have not heard anyone on council state the voucher transfer was coming forth.

Fourthly, if all is true, you would agree Doug Adkins will not be offered a position in either of the two counties in all probability, sime they have county administration, so the  very fact Doug Adkins is a finalist for city manager shows that council doesn't think he did something wrong, or they are not aware these vouchers are being transferred for administration? And, as importantly, if they know, they think he needs a job.....isn't it true they will likely give him a job as city manager?

    



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'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 9:56am

I am sorry....but I am totally confused.
Well Acclaro I will try to untangle this web for you one point at a time...

It was stated there is pending investigation and  an open audit by HUD which prevents any information from being available from the HUD audit, and yet there are statements made about an outcome, non published to date, about 1662 vouchers which will remain and transfer to the current program out of Middletown to two county programs. How was that decision determined? HUD or the city?
WORD ON THE STREET: HUD said turn over the program or we will take legal action against all those involved City Council, Miss Judy and Doug Adkins. I have heard that Adkins has filed an appeal with HUD.

Secondly, I have read Marty Kohler and Dr. Price worked in tandem to raise HUD Section 8 vouchers; the same vouchers Nancy Nix, Noah Powers, Tony Marconi, others, denies, or all sitting council a few years ago  but Marty Kohler still works for the city and the levy nearly passed, when many claim it was the vouchers that undermined MCSD performance.
The increase of HUD Section 8 Vouchers started with Neil (see MJ article under vouchers). and then Marty took over the program and approved all other increases in the voucher program to their current level of 1662. City Hall increased the program by about 900 vouchers…then multiply that number by 2 to 3 children per household and you now have the increase and need for all the new schools that were built with the last levy. For all these PHD’s, Collage Educated people to say that they did not realize what would happen to the school system…Is a flat out lie…A high school drop out could have predicted this out come…mercy
Why was Marty Kohler not fired?
…and as my granny would say..”Now that’s the $64,000 question”

Thirdly, I have not heard anyone on council state the voucher transfer was coming forth.
”This is a legal action and we are not allowed to talk about it” They are all up to their eye balls in this mess because COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE THE MPHA

Fourthly, if all is true, you would agree Doug Adkins will not be offered a position in either of the two counties in all probability, some they have county administration, so the  very fact Doug Adkins is a finalist for city manager shows that council doesn't think he did something wrong, or they are not aware these vouchers are being transferred for administration? And, as importantly, if they know, they think he needs a job.....isn't it true they will likely give him a job as city manager?
If city council admits that Dougie has done anything wrong…then they have to admit that they have done something wrong also because COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE THE MPHA

     



Posted By: Perplexed
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 9:59am
Most people don't know this, but, nearly $500,000 of CDBG funds were spent prior to 2007 for the demolition of the Maple Park and Amanda schools. Kohler and Dr. Price worked very closely together on these neighborhood revitalization (??) projects. Those two were good buddies!


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 10:12am

Perplexed
Thanks for reminding me about these projects.
Yes they were really good buds back in those days.
Perplexed please correct me if I give any incorrect information on any of these HUD programs.
My three little grey cells are about to OD on all this mess.



Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 10:20am

 “The city suffers from an overabundance of rental property, beyond what the existing market can support and a corresponding lack of home ownership in distressed neighborhoods,” Adkins said. “During the past 10 years, the city implemented a policy of increasing the number of Section 8 vouchers to assist low-income residents.”

    Before Dec. 1, 1999, the city had 774 Section 8 vouchers. But because the city wanted to reduce the vacancy rates of older and less-desirable homes, and to ensure that housing remained in compliance with city code,Middletown officials began to accept additional vouchers, Adkins said.

    The city added 888 over the next six years, with 56.9 percent of the vouchers having been added in 2000 and 2001. The last increase came on Oct. 1, 2005 when they accepted 108 vouchers.



Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 10:31am
acclaro: I have to clarifiy a statement I made earlier in which I posted "if you are too stupid to figure that out" I was ofcourse referring to Doug NOT you.I did not want you to think that was directed toward you. Sometimes you post something how you are thinking put in print it looks much different.


Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 11:34am
Perhaps someone will inform Ms. Howington the city is mandated to hire Doug Adkins because he can't reveal what occurred with HUD and needs to be under legal cover by the city of Middletown. What a shame the best candidate can't be hired.

Howington, Jane


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'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 2:30pm

Ooops…Acclaro
I forgot another important point..
Nelson and Associates contract for the Section 8 Program expired in March 2014 and it has not been renewed.
It is now only a matter of them separating and 
transferring all the data to Warren and Butler counties.



Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 3:37pm
There is much about the city and the section 8 mess I admit, I don't have specific details.

But, this, I do know.

I watched Marty Kohler tell city council how rapid and how escalated the HUD section 8 vouchers were. I know as fact, he was asked, who approved the elevation. It is fact, he stated to them, "they did." It is a fact they denied ever knowing of the increase.

It is a fact, when new council was put in place, they wanted the vouchers reduced, to undo, what Mr. Kohler had done. That led to the battle with HUD and what has appeared to be an audit that has been quiet and not been mentioned by council, in nearly nine months.

It is a fact Mr. Kohler was not reprimanded, and remains employed.   Many ask a simple question. What does it take to be terminated by the city of Middletown? Council denied knowing there was an increase, new council attempts to cut the unwanted vouchers back to a previous level. Call me wrong....but I surmise 9 out 10 residents would say something is wrong with this picture purely on these simple facts.

Last question. Who handles the HUD appeal? HUD, or DOJ?

The elevation in HUD section 8, for purposes no opne on council can explain, nor Mr. Kohler, has done great harm to crime, property values, MCSD performance, and the city's reputation. And no one has been terminated. Has there been a conductor on this train in two generations....it appears not.
 


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'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 4:03pm

Middletown Journal
Posted:
6:24 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013

Council weighs options for response to HUD

By  http://www.journal-news.com/staff/michael-d-pitman/" rel="nofollow - Staff Writer

    MIDDLETOWN  The city is not at risk of losing federal funding or being sued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development if it proceeds with a plan to eliminate 1,008 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers over the next five years — at least not right now, said Community Revitalization Director Doug Adkins.

    “You’re at no risk right this minute,” Adkins told Middletown City Council at the board’s Tuesday meeting. “Zero.”

    Adkins presented council members with five options for responding to a Dec. 21 letter the city received from HUD about its plan to cut Section 8 vouchers. In the letter, HUD officials told city officials that they needed to either fill Middletown’s available vouchers, transfer the city’s voucher program to the Butler Metropolitan Housing Agency or face possible legal action.

    Adkins told council he disagreed with characterizations of HUD’s letter as being “strongly worded.” He said he thought the letter was “diplomatically written” given each side’s differing point of view on the matter.

    “No fair housing or civil rights threats were made, no regulatory violations were cited,” said Adkins, a former attorney with the U.S. Labor Department. “We have been politely asked if we would like to walk away and give our program to Butler Metro… As an attorney, I’m looking for, where’s the hammer?”

    Adkins said there is nothing in HUD’s regulations that says Middletown can’t cut vouchers. He said he’s “100 percent comfortable moving forward” with the city’s plan because HUD needs to cite the city before they can say any federal funding would be in jeopardy.

    Still, Adkins said city staff would research and make a detailed presentation to council in two weeks about five ways they could respond to HUD’s letter. The options include:

·                       Transferring the program to BMHA as requested. Adkins said while it gets the city out of the public housing business and attention can be redirected to other issues, the city would “lose all the controls and safeguards that we have built into the program over the last three years and the vouchers will continue to stay concentrated in Middletown.”

·                       Negotiating a transfer the program with conditions. BMHA would take over the program with the city’s standards, which includes honoring the city’s barred landlord list and adopting rent usefulness and payment standards to de-concentrate high poverty census tracts.

·                       Transferring just the 1,008 vouchers to BMHA and continuing MPHA operations with the proposed 654 vouchers.

·                       Keeping vouchers and negotiating to reduce other subsidized housing units, though Adkins said this option is the least likely HUD would consider.

·                       To “politely decline” and move forward with what the city has proposed.

    The city must respond to HUD’s letter by Jan. 31, however, Adkins told council he has asked for an extension until March so that the city could thoroughly review its options.

The proposal city leaders sent to HUD, which was approved by the Middletown Public Housing Agency on Oct. 16, reduces the city’s total subsidize housing to 10 percent of the city’s total housing stock. It also places the city in compliance for HUD regulations to have 95 percent of its vouchers filled. With more than 1,600 vouchers issued, the city only had about 82 percent of them filled.

    Staff proposed and the MPHA board, which consists of all seven members of city council, approved the plan to reduce the vouchers to 654 and transfer the remaining 1,008 vouchers to another housing authority or back to HUD.

    Jeff Faulkner, of Wilbraham Road and a Section 8 landlord, said he felt HUD’s letter was clear: comply by filling the available vouchers or risk losing the program and local control. Faulkner said he’s “fed up” with the process and the way the city is “beating up” Section 8 landlords with its strenuous property inspections.

    Faulkner has sued the city in small claims court on Dec. 28 for boarding up his rental property at 2108 Winona Drive four years ago, and alleges it cost him potential income and thousands of dollars in repairs. He is seeking $3,000 plus interest from the city.

“This program now is getting a bad reputation of not being landlord friendly,” Faulkner said. “It’s all about the landlords. We’re the vendors, we’re the ones that own the homes, we make them available for people who need them.”

    Councilman Joshua Laubach assured Faulkner that council wasn’t “unfairly going after or targeting landlords or Section 8 owners.” Laubach said the city’s plan is about maintaining local control of how Middletown looks demographically and not being governed by outside federal dollars.

    But other council members expressed concerns about challenging HUD.

    “My concern is the same as the vice mayor’s, that we run the risk of losing a lot of what we built over the last three years that I’ve been here,” Councilman A. J. Smith said.

If HUD comes back and says the city did violate some regulation, Adkins said City     Council will have time to regroup and reassess its position because “they have to cite us with something, they have to find that we have broken something.” Then they have to allow the city to have an action plan to regain compliance.

 



Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 4:10pm

Acclaro
I have sent the following email to Doug Adkins and Kyle Fuchs just a few minutes ago. I will scan and post the information as soon as I receive it from City Hall. vcm



Under the Freedom of Information Act I'm requesting copies the following documents:

Kyle
I would like copies of the original documents with signatures of any and all request for increases in vouchers concerning the Section 8 program for Middletown, Ohio between 2000 - 2006.

Thank you 
Vivian Moon 


Posted By: Paul Nagy
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 4:35pm
Acclaro,
       I'm sorry to say your assessment regarding Doug Adkins being appointed City manager is correct. In spite of the fact he and his boss have negatively impacted thousands of citizens Council is going to appoint him. If Council does this, and I have good reason to believe they will, then Council will demonstrate great irresponsibility toward their constituency and should have to be held accountable. We will be going down the wrong path again. When all is said and done Council must understand he is a prosecutor and thinks and acts like a prosecutor and he should go back to being a prosecutor. He  cannot communicate with the general public like a profesional administrator. He certainly is NOT qualified to be a City Manager. I appeal to council to take more applications, spend a little more money if necessary, but get the right person. As Ken Cohen suggested, "Don't settle."  Who in teh world got up such alist and tehn made a short list like this? It is a joke. This is vitally important at this time. Its not too late. We can and must turn the city into a more positive direction. We have the talent and can create the opportunities in this city to do it.
       Paul Nagy


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 5:18pm

I watched Marty Kohler tell city council how rapid and how escalated the HUD section 8 vouchers were. I know as fact, he was asked, who approved the elevation. It is fact, he stated to them, "they did." It is a fact they denied ever knowing of the increase.
Yes sir them boys down at City Hall are sure they have been doing a fine job..if only they could remember what they have been doing

It is a fact, when new council was put in place, they wanted the vouchers reduced, to undo, what Mr. Kohler had done. That led to the battle with HUD and what has appeared to be an audit that has been quiet and not been mentioned by council, in nearly nine months.
Them boys know all the best hiding places at City Hall for all their dirty laundry

It is a fact Mr. Kohler was not reprimanded, and remains employed. Many ask a simple question. What does it take to be terminated by the city of Middletown?
In his report to HUD, Mr. Adkins stated that the Section 8 Program had DEVISTATED the City of Middletown. I attended a Meet your Council Person meeting at the home of Anita Scott Jones and Josh Laubach was also present. I believe Mike Presta was at this meeting also.
I stated that if one of my employees had DEVISTATED my business I would have fire him in a heart beat…I then asked …Why is Marty Kohler still on the city payroll? I thought the grass was going to catch on fire since they all jumped out of their chairs so fast…NO NO NO…because every body at City Hall knows that Crazy Vivian could never be correct.

Council denied knowing there was an increase, new council attempts to cut the unwanted vouchers back to a previous level. Call me wrong....but I surmise 9 out 10 residents would say something is wrong with this picture purely on these simple facts.
….and after all Acclaro that happened in the past and council members does not want to speak of the past. It is you sir that simply does not understand the situation..

Last question. Who handles the HUD appeal? HUD, or DOJ?
Hmmm…I’m not sure but I would presume the city appeal would go before HUD in Washington, D.C.  You might want to call Mr. Adkins to answer this question. 

The elevation in HUD section 8, for purposes no one on council can explain, nor Mr. Kohler, has done great harm to crime, property values, MCSD performance, and the city's reputation. And no one has been terminated. Has there been a conductor on this train in two generations....it appears not.
No…or an engineer either.
 



Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 7:23pm
We don't even have to look at the number of vouchers Marty brought in.Lets just look at the number of businesses Marty single handedly has caused to decline to move to our city. He doesn't return phone calls, he refuses to consider zoning changes. Doug threw the city under the bus saying our zoning laws are antiquated and should be changed ..Why has Marty not done that? Would that be dereliction of duty? It would be in OUR world and WE would be dismissed. They say it cost money and the city doesn't have it. But we do for other projects. You would think it would be top priority to be working off of current law. So maybe that goes back to Les. The point is Marty has been a detriment to the city but there he sits drawing a nice salary. IMO


Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: May 19 2014 at 8:09pm
Connecting the dots.

As the story concludes, Adkins is needed as a witness on the appeal. It is better to have one on payroll that supports the city, than one hostile as a witness. In turn....he gets city manager, not on accomplishment, not on experience.....

but because he may need a job as the feds paid some of his salary (I thought associated with NSP and the like), and they know it is better to have him in the camp, than out.

But, no surprise. I mean, Marty Kohler who brought in double the vouchers no one has indicated they approved and knew of the addition, which has been the thrust of the reduction, is employed. Adkins gets a promotion.

What are lessons learned? When working for the city, it is wise to live next door, or on the same street, as your city council members. It promotes job security. 


   


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'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill


Posted By: Perplexed
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 12:31am
Acclaro -

Much of the Community Revitalization Dept. administrative funds, presuming Section 8 Administrative funding is transferred to BMHA, are HUD-based (Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) plus the Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) programs). As noted previously, CDBG is already administratively top-heavy while HOME only allows roughly 10% of the grant ($40,000+/-). Something has to give.


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 6:58am

Middletown Journal
Posted: 12:00 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013

HUD to Middletown: Fill the vouchers, transfer the program or face legal action
By  http://www.journal-news.com/staff/michael-d-pitman/" rel="nofollow -
Staff Writer

    MIDDLETOWN The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has given Middletown three choices concerning its proposal to eliminate more than 1,000 Section 8 vouchers: fill the available vouchers, transfer the program to Butler County or face legal action.

Middletown officials sent HUD a 142-page proposal in October outlining the city’s plan to get rid of 1,008 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers through attrition over the next three to five years. The proposal was in response to HUD’s request for a corrective action plan to address the fact that Middletown was filling the number of housing vouchers required. The city needed to have 95 percent of its 1,662 vouchers filled, but only had 1,424 filled as of August.

    In a two-page letter sent to city officials on Dec. 18, Shawn Sweet, the director of HUD’s Cleveland Hub Office of Public Housing, wrote that filling the available vouchers “would forestall the need to explore the contentious legal issues that will inevitably arise should the city proceed” with trying to eliminate them.

    Sweet also suggested that if Middletown doesn’t want to fill the vouchers, the city might be better off turning its program over to the Butler County Metropolitan Housing Authority. Middletown is one of a handful of Ohio cities that operates its own housing authority.

“As you may be aware, responsibility for administering Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers assistance in Ohio has been vested almost exclusively in each county’s metropolitan housing authority…,” Sweet wrote. “The city’s frustrations suggest the Middletown community would be better served by the prevailing model.”

    Sweet said the BMHA “would seem to be in a superior position” to serve participating families concerning all housing options available in the region. He added that HUD has already had “preliminary discussions” with BMHA, which “has expressed a willingness to assume responsibility for the city’s current (Section 8 voucher) allocation.”

    Officials with the BMHA could not be reached for comment.

    A response to HUD’s letter is due Jan. 31 and most City Council members have said they will wait for recommendations on how to respond from city administrators. Councilman A.J. Smith, however, said Friday that the city should “back off” or risk losing HUD funding, including the $1 million Section 108 loan Middletown received on behalf of Cincinnati State Middletown.

    Middletown Community Revitalization Director Doug Adkins, who authored the city’s proposal to HUD, said in October that he doesn’t believe the city’s plan violates any of the federal housing agency’s regulations. He said in order for Middletown to lose any HUD funding, the agency would have to first find that a regulation violation had been committed and that the city refused to cooperate to regain compliance.

    City Manager Judy Gilleland and Adkins will present options at Tuesday’s council meeting, but a “more robust” discussion will happen at the Middletown Public Housing Authority meeting on Jan. 22, before council’s business meeting, according to emails from Gilleland to council members. Gilleland and Adkins declined comment until after Tuesday’s presentation.

Many council members said they were not surprised by the strong HUD response.

    “We knew this wasn’t going to be easy,” said Councilwoman Ann Mort. “We had expected to negotiate, which is what we’re looking for. We have far more (vouchers) than other places in the county and we’ve been saying this for a long time.”

    Councilman Joe Mulligan said he was “disappointed that they didn’t recognize so many of the concerns that Doug Adkins and his department laid out in the report.”

    “I don’t think the three options that they gave will help us with our efforts to re-balance the economic makeup of our housing,” Mulligan said.

    The letter said Sweet and the agency “disagree(s) with the argument that eliminating this affordable housing resource for needy Middletown families will somehow benefit the city’s economic prospects.”

    “[T]his perception by the city cannot be used to justify departures from statutory, regulatory and other clearly established policy requirements,” Sweet wrote. “We would be gravely concerned in that regard if the city were to permit its utilization rate to precipitously fall as would be the case if vouchers are not reissued when families exit the program.”

    Adkins said in October the goals of the program aren’t being achieved in a city that has seen a rise in poverty, decline in population and a housing stock with more than 3,000 dilapidated homes. The city has about 500 Section 8 landlords with about 1,400 Section 8 properties.

    According to the proposal, the 1,662 Section 8 vouchers equals 49.8 percent of all subsidized housing in Middletown and 14.3 percent of all available housing in the city. The goal is to reduce all subsidize housing — which includes programs offered by the Butler Metro Public Housing   Agency, HUD directly and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit — to 10 percent of all available housing in the city.


    The Middletown Journal has been following this story since it was first reported in October, and will continue to inform our readers of future developments.

Section 8 vouchers

Here’s how many Section 8 vouchers the city’s housing authority controls compared to others in the area, and the jurisdiction’s population:

Middletown: 1,662 vouchers, 48,694 population

Butler County: 1,111 vouchers, 368,130 population

Warren County: 448 vouchers, 203,129 population

Cincinnati: 11,266 vouchers, 296,943 population

Dayton: 3,955 vouchers, 141,527 population

Source: City of Middletown Section 8 Analysis October 2012

Voucher increase

In 1999, the city had 774 Section 8 vouchers, which is 120 than being proposed the city cut down to. Here’s how the city acquired 888 more vouchers from 1999 to 2005:

Dec. 1, 1999: awarded 75 mainstream vouchers for non-elderly disabled

May 1, 2000: awarded 50 family unification vouchers for families where a lack of housing would allow separation with the children.

Sept. 1, 2000: awarded 55 fair share vouchers.

Nov. 1, 2000: awarded 200 vouchers in certain developments for non-elderly disabled.

Oct. 1, 2001: awarded 200 vouchers in certain developments for non-elderly disabled.

Jan. 1, 2003: awarded 200 vouchers in certain developments for non-elderly disabled.

Oct. 1, 2005: awarded 108 tenant protection vouchers for families in Chatham Village.

 



Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 8:16am

Posted: 12:00 a.m. Sunday, March 24, 2013

Housing expert says city is ‘playing with fire’

Section 8’s watershed moment with HUD will play a part in determining the city’s future

By  http://www.journal-news.com/staff/michael-d-pitman/" rel="nofollow - Staff Writer

    MIDDLETOWN Cutting 60 percent of Middletown’s existing Section 8 housing vouchers would be reckless and could cost the city millions of dollars in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, low-income and housing experts say.

    City officials plan to eliminate 1,008 Section 8 vouchers through attrition in the next five years. They say Middletown is over-saturated with subsidized housing that is taxing city services, generating crime and negatively impacting the city’s image. Middletown has the highest rate of subsidized housing in the state at 9.7 percent.

    The Middletown Public Housing Authority presented the plan to HUD back in October, but it has encountered some resistance from the federal housing agency. HUD has told Middletown officials to fill 95 percent of its available vouchers, or transfer its voucher program to Butler County Metropolitan Housing Authority, or face possible legal action.

    But city officials recently sent HUD a letter refusing to back down from their position.

    HUD spokeswoman Donna White confirmed the agency is reviewing the city’s letter, but would not indicate when or how it might respond.

    Elizabeth Brown, executive director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal, a Cincinnati-based housing rights organization, said Middletown officials are “playing with fire if they continue to thumb their noses at HUD.”

    Brown said for years Middletown has been “held up as a model for running the Section 8 program,” but now the city is “tumbling off the pedestal.”

    “They were serving their residents. They had a need in the community, and they had been meeting the need,” Brown said. “That’s not a negative thing to say they’re successful (serving low-income families).”

    Brown said HUD has the ability to cut off all of its Community Development Block Grant funds if the agency believes Middletown is not being fair with its voucher program. Middletown is slated to receive $1.4 million in CDBG funds this year, according to city records.

    She said she has talked with HUD after hearing about the city’s plans and that the agency is “extremely upset with Middletown.”

    “To me the simplest thing is, if the city does not want to be in the business, they should simply turn the program over to the BMHA, and let them run it for the entire county,” Brown said. “It would be a fair process throughout the county, and it gets the city out of the middle of it.”

    Phyllis Hitte, director of BMHA, said she would have no comment on Middletown’s vouchers until something happens with them involving her agency. Hitte said last week that BMHA would assume Middletown’s vouchers if HUD said so because there is a need for the vouchers.

    BMHA currently administers 1,111 Section 8 vouchers and about 300 portable vouchers, which are vouchers assigned to other public housing agencies. Hitte said BMHA has a 4,000-family waiting list based on applications filled out nearly three years ago.

    But Middletown officials don’t want to give up control of the Section 8 program. They say they just want to run it at a reduced level.

    Doug Adkins, the city’s community revitalization director, said because there is a significant poverty rate in Middletown, having no subsidized housing wouldn’t be beneficial.

    “Our poverty rate is over 20 percent, and we have a portion of our population that, due to age or personal circumstances, cannot fully provide for themselves,” Adkins said. “Two examples would be low, fixed-income seniors and disabled residents.”

    Ignoring the needs of those residents when federal funds and programs are available “would lower those residents quality of life and place additional burdens on city resources to fill those unmet needs.”

    “The harder part is finding the balance between helping the disadvantaged without hurting the remaining residents through loss of the income and property tax base and the ability to provide core city services,” Adkins said.’’

     Middletown had less than 800 Section 8 housing vouchers in December 1999, but that figure more than doubled by October 2005. City officials placed a moratorium on accepting additional subsidized housing vouchers in 2005 in an effort to stop single-family homes from being transformed into multi-family residences.

    A 2005 staff report on the moratorium stated: “A major concern expressed in the master plan is the trend towards higher renter occupancy in formerly owner-occupied neighborhoods. This trend has been coupled with disinvestment in the same neighborhoods.”

    Butler County Treasurer Nancy Nix, who served on Middletown City Council when the moratorium was introduced, said it’s “anybody’s guess” what will happen if Middletown is allowed to reduce the total number of vouchers to 654.

    “I hope that (HUD) would understand that we are out of balance and let us reduce it to a reasonable amount,” Nix said. “There is no reason that Middletown should be the Section 8 capital of the state. It’s a continued strain on our services, and it hinders our progress to be a more vibrant community.”

    But critics of the city’s plan say eliminating the vouchers could create more problems than it solves. Cutting the vouchers would pull an estimated $6 million out of the local economy in funds paid to the city’s 400 Section 8 landlords. It could potentially create more than 1,000 new residential vacancies and displace more than 1,000 low-income families.

    “The program participants, for the most part, are people who have lived in the city for generations and generations,” Brown said. “And why should people who have lived in Middletown for generations be kicked out of the city, or fell like that’s what’s happening?”

    Miami University Oxford professor Dennis Sullivan, whose expertise is in poverty, public and urban economics, said he has not heard of any public housing agency attempting to reduce vouchers. Typically, you hear of communities needing more, he said.

    Sullivan said Middletown’s attempt to cut 60 percent of its vouchers, or roughly 200 a year for the next five years, is a lot in a relatively short period of time. He questioned where program participants would go if the voucher assistance is cut, but also said he disagreed with concentrating Section 8 vouchers in one area of the county.

    “I think it’s a very telling thing that so much of Butler County’s Section 8 housing is sitting in the northeast corner in Middletown,” he said.

    John Spring, director for the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, said the city’s proposed cuts would greatly affect those who need help the most.

    “Generally, cities are suffering, having hard times economically,” Spring said. “Often times, the people that get blamed are the people at the brunt of the issues, the ones in poverty. (Governments) say if those people just weren’t here, then we’d prosper.

    “The people who use Section 8 are likely people who’ve lived there for generations,” he continued. “It’s a question of whether Middletown will take care of its own people. The other question is: What happens when we get rid of affordable housing? It creates homelessness, and not homelessness of people coming into the city, but their own people.”

    Section 8 allows people to move out of blighted areas and gives them a hand up and a chance to become productive citizens, Sullivan said.

    “People are concerned that Section 8 will be a vector that carries blight like a disease,” Sullivan said. “That doesn’t mean that’s the case.”

    Brown said Middletown needs to concentrate on economic development, bringing in new businesses with new jobs, and the city’s 23 percent poverty rate will drop.

    “That’s where their time and energy should be,” she said.


    This is the third of a three-part series looking at the past, present and future of Section 8 in Middletown.

Continuing the coversation

How this program moves beyond this conflict with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regarding the future of the city’s Section 8 program will play a role in how the city is shaped in the future. The Journal will continue its in-depth coverage on this program.

Join the conversation

Visit us online at Facebook.com/MiddletownJournal and join our conversation about Section 8 housing in Middletown.

Subsidized housing

Middletown has highest percentage of subdizied units in the state. Here’s a list of neighboring public houisng agencies (number of Section 8 vouchers in parentheses):

·                       9.7 percent: Middletown (1,662 vouchers)

·                       5.1 percent: Cincinnati (11,266 vouchers)

·                       1.7 percent: Butler County (1,111 vouchers)

·                       1.5 percent: Clermont County (906 vouchers)

·                       0.8 percent: Warren County (448 vouchers)

·                       0.3 percent: Preble County (52 vouchers)

Here’s a list of the top five public houisng agencies in the state (number of Section 8 vouchers in parentheses):

·                       9.7 percent: Middletown (1,662 vouchers)

·                       8.5 percent: Chillicothe (515 vouchers)

·                       5.7 percent: Cambridge (743)

·                       5.2 percent: Akron (9,760 vouchers*)

·                       5.2 percent: Jefferson (818 vouchers)

·                       State average: 2.6 percent

*Includes cities of Barberton, Akron, Cuyahoga Falls and Summit County

Source: City of Middletown, October 2012 report

 



Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 2:23pm
Why don't we do a phone campaign and call our council members and express to them we feel the person for the job would be Ms.Howington because she is by far the most qualified not just a familiar face around the city building.IMO


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 2:41pm
Over the Hill
I think an email campaign might be better since many of them work.
Either way...make your opinion known to the City Council.
Mr. Adkins is NOT qualified for the job of City Manager


Posted By: swohio75
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 3:11pm
Originally posted by Vivian Moon Vivian Moon wrote:

Mr. Adkins is NOT qualified for the job of City Manager


Although not selected, apparently others think he has what it takes to make it to finalist.

http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/local/middletown-official-finalist-for-city-manager-job-/ndTGk/


Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 3:51pm
Originally posted by swohio75 swohio75 wrote:


Originally posted by Vivian Moon Vivian Moon wrote:

Mr. Adkins is NOT qualified for the job of City Manager


Although not selected, apparently others think he has what it takes to make it to finalist.

http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/local/middletown-official-finalist-for-city-manager-job-/ndTGk/



SW, YOU ARE SUCH A LOYAL SUPPORTER OF THE INNER SANCTUM OF MIDDLETOWN AREN'T YOU.... KEEPIN' IT COZY. YOUR PALS CAN DO NO WRONG.


AND BY "OTHERS" YOU MEAN THE INNER CIRCLE/ ALL IN THE FAMILY FOLKS, INCLUDING PERHAPS, YOURSELF, WHO FASHION HOLDING ON TO THE CITY CREED OF NEOPOTISM, CITY RUINATION AND REWARDING THOSE UNDERSERVING WHILE ON A MISSION OF EXCLUSION FOR THE OTHER 98% OF THIS CITY. INCREDIBLE DENIAL.

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I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.


Posted By: swohio75
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 4:03pm
Originally posted by VietVet VietVet wrote:

Originally posted by swohio75 swohio75 wrote:


Originally posted by Vivian Moon Vivian Moon wrote:

Mr. Adkins is NOT qualified for the job of City Manager


Although not selected, apparently others think he has what it takes to make it to finalist.

http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/local/middletown-official-finalist-for-city-manager-job-/ndTGk/



SW, YOU ARE SUCH A LOYAL SUPPORTER OF THE INNER SANCTUM OF MIDDLETOWN AREN'T YOU.... KEEPIN' IT COZY. YOUR PALS CAN DO NO WRONG.


AND BY "OTHERS" YOU MEAN THE INNER CIRCLE/ ALL IN THE FAMILY FOLKS, INCLUDING PERHAPS, YOURSELF, WHO FASHION HOLDING ON TO THE CITY CREED OF NEOPOTISM, CITY RUINATION AND REWARDING THOSE UNDERSERVING WHILE ON A MISSION OF EXCLUSION FOR THE OTHER 98% OF THIS CITY. INCREDIBLE DENIAL.


You couldn't be more wrong.  Based on the Bank One deal, I don't believe Adkins should be named city manager.  Nor do I think Landen should be either.  That doesn't mean others outside the city don't think he has the qualifications to be city manager. 

All that Vivian and Nelson (in all of his incarnations here) seem to do is post hearsay/gossips/rumors.  Until I see proof of wrong-doing in print, I'll reserve judgement on the HUD matter. 
 
I am fully in agreement that Howington is the best candidate of the five, from what I can tell based on what has publicly been made available.   Still, I think a more non-traditional candidate/turn-around expert would be a better fit. 


Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 4:14pm
Maybe SW has trouble reading the postings on this forum. The Bank One deal for example: I cannot believe there are people out there that would support Judy, Doug, and Les's illegal handling of this deal. Why would anyone support such a back room deal? The question is why was it SO important to these 3 to get this job done in such a hurry that they were willing to do illegally? I bet we'll never get an answer to that. And SW wonders why people would be opposed to Adkins. Because there are a few of us that prefer honesty and integrity to just being able to tell people what they want to hear. IMO. Yea, in denial!!


Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 4:21pm
Vet, your criticism of swOH75 is too harsh and misdirected. It was indicated the position taken was an outsider, and a private sector individual, was desirable. In fact, it was said there was a senior level executive that graduated from Harvard and had deep manufacturing contacts, that was willing to become Economic Director, and did not get a second interview.

I can certainly agree that there is much speculation about HUD and malfeasance, with nothing published nor conclusive report presented to date.

What I find particularly unsettling, is Mr. Kohler doubled these vouchers, stated council approved them, which includes Nancy Nix by the way, and Mr. Adkins and present council, are trying to limit what the city requested , by a city leader, approved by Middletown city council, and the same individuals, now cry foul.

I completely agree with swOH75 on the position, and am distressed how betrayed city council and leaders treated their constituents in the voucher scenario. 

While Middletown has massive problems of its own creation, to brand itself the section 8 capital of Ohio is beyond the pale, and ALL should be outraged, and a group of individuals should be held accountable.



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'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill


Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 4:48pm
Full agreement with Acclaro here, and see SWOhio as a sensible person not totally in love with what goes on around here.
Let's don't attack and act like the Donham aristocrats. We will have a new city manager soon, hopefully followed by many admin changes.
Then we can concentrate on changing our mayor and council. Should be an interesting meeting today.


Posted By: processor
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 4:53pm
Acclaro,
Not only should all be outraged, and a group of individuals should be help accountable but we need to support our city leaders in their endeavor to significantly reduce the number of section 8 vouchers in the city. It is a huge mess, caused by our city leaders, but at least they've woken up and are now trying to reduce the vouchers. Unless the city has signed a contract with HUD then screw HUD and their money. Let them complain and take us to court. I don't know of any constitutional law that would give HUD the right to tell a city what to do.

It's not like the city has done a good job spending HUD's money anyway.

The place to hold the city leaders accountable is at the ballot box.


Posted By: swohio75
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 4:55pm
Furthermore, no proof of illegal wrong-doing or misappropriation by Marty Koehler has ever been presented here, just bitter feelings by Vivian that he wouldn't give her money for her little cemetery vault project.

Perhaps Marty is guilty of good intentions gone bad with the expansion of section 8/vouchers.



Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 5:11pm

You couldn't be more wrong.  Based on the Bank One deal, I don't believe Adkins should be named city manager.  Nor do I think Landen should be either.  That doesn't mean others outside the city don't think he has the qualifications to be city manager.  
SWOH75
Well where was all your outrage several months ago when Mr. Adkins did the very same deal, the same way with the
Masonic Temple that was donated to Art Central? A building owned by City Hall with a value of over $5,000, that was not appraised, nor was it put up for public bid…AS REQUIRED BY LAW. Maybe you need to do your research.

All that Vivian and Nelson (in all of his incarnations here) seem to do is post hearsay/gossips/rumors.  Until I see proof of wrong-doing in print, I'll reserve judgement on the HUD matter.  
HUD has stated that MPHA had missing records and was not in compliance….that means wrong doing has occurred. If you are looking for a transcript of the meetings those are private and we may never know what really happened…only the final outcome of the case. 
If you think I’m sooo wrong…jump on it SW…prove my research wrong…with your own hard facts.
 
I am fully in agreement that Howington is the best candidate of the five, from what I can tell based on what has publicly been made available.   Still, I think a more non-traditional candidate/turn-around expert would be a better fit. 
At least we agree on something 



Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 5:31pm

Furthermore, no proof of illegal wrong-doing or misappropriation by Marty Koehler has ever been presented here,
SWOH 75
I have never stated on this blog that Marty Kohler did anything illegal…If your going to attach me you better be able to….PROVE IT

 just bitter feelings by Vivian that he wouldn't give her money for her little cemetery vault project.
No SW he promised me CDBG grant money for the vault and then lied about it…You need to get your facts straight. And this has nothing to do with his other actions.

Perhaps Marty is guilty of good intentions gone bad with the expansion of section 8/vouchers.
PLEEZEE…Not another city or county in the state of Ohio has every requested this additional number of Section 8 vouchers…PROVE ME WRONG



Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 5:54pm
Hold on, SWO---IMO Marty K has been on the wrong side of many issues for close to 20 years.
He, along with last admin/commissions/councils, is very much to blame. His historic and former downtown area plans haven't produced much, have discouraged many possible businesses, and wasted millions in local taxpayer $$.

And personally, I like the guy. Just disagree with the direction he prefers for the city.
+ I ? How he originally spent the grant $$ when he was in charge. Time for a lot if changes around here regardless of who becomes the next city manager.

So--where is Mtown29?
Screen name change?


Posted By: Perplexed
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 6:17pm
City staff most responsible for the unwarranted escalation of HUD Housing Choice Vouchers are: Ron Olson (City Manager), Neil Barille (Planning Director and Angela Tucker (Community Development Coordinator). However, Marty Kohler did tell me on several occasions how the expanded Section 8 program was rejuvenating and stabilizing Ward 2. You may be surprised to hear me say this, but, it is the truth. Marty was on staff only when the last Housing Choice Vouchers were requested by the city and approved by HUD. When it comes to other plans and expenditures of CDBG and HOME funds prior to 2007, my sentiments are well known and documented.


Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 7:04pm
Perplexed; were any city council members aware the latest request for section 8 vouchers were made, and misled the public by stating they did not authorize them? If so, whom?

Neil Barielle sold his house on Windridge Court for $200,000. to a firm that rents out property. Over the years, it had tenants including one that was a child molester. For the past year, it has sat empty, with grass 3 feet tall, and a swimming pool cracked and filled with stagnant water. It hasn't been rented in nearly a year. So much for poetic justice and prophecy associated with an "economic director."

Laura Williams needs to bring down her dead ash trees before someone has a tree fall on them while driving on Rosedale.  

      


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'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 7:23pm

Perplexed; were any city council members aware the latest request for section 8 vouchers were made, and misled the public by stating they did not authorize them? If so, whom? 
Acclaro
All this information can be obtained by requesting copies of the MPHA meeting minutes for the dates that I have already provided on this blog. I would assume that council members had to vote on all these increases during those meetings if you need proof.


Neil Barielle sold his house on Windridge Court for $200,000. to a firm that rents out property. Over the years, it had tenants including one that was a child molester. For the past year, it has sat empty, with grass 3 feet tall, and a swimming pool cracked and filled with stagnant water. It hasn't been rented in nearly a year. So much for poetic justice and prophecy associated with an "economic director."
Need to call Doug’s office and give address of this home and demand that this property be cleaned up.

Laura Williams needs to bring down her dead ash trees before someone has a tree fall on them while driving on Rosedale.   

Need to call Doug’s office and give address of this home and request that the dead tree be removed.



Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 7:34pm
Originally posted by swohio75 swohio75 wrote:

Furthermore, no proof of illegal wrong-doing or misappropriation by Marty Koehler has ever been presented here, just bitter feelings by Vivian that he wouldn't give her money for her little cemetery vault project.

Perhaps Marty is guilty of good intentions gone bad with the expansion of section 8/vouchers.





ACCLARO...SPIDERJOHN....STILL THINK SW ISN'T IN DEFENSE OF THE CITY GANG? HERE'S A SHOT A VIVIAN, WHO WANTED NOTHING MORE THAN TO TAKE CARE OF AN AGING CEMETERY WITHOUT INCURRING THE WRATH OF THE CITY LEADERS. SW TAKES THE SIDE OF KOHLER, EVEN WITH HIS TRACK RECORD OF CITY DAMAGE PRESENTED HERE ON THIS FORUM. READ SOME OF THE PAST SW POSTS AND YOU DECIDE HIS SIDE OF THE FENCE HERE.

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I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.


Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 7:38pm
Respectfully.... you said he/she supported Adkins, that was untrue.

Perplexed indicated he knew the vouchers came from Neil and Olson, and not Kohler, and I assume he was in a position as an employee, to know.

I error on the side of facts.



-------------
'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.' - Winston Churchill


Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 7:46pm
Originally posted by spiderjohn spiderjohn wrote:

Hold on, SWO---IMO Marty K has been on the wrong side of many issues for close to 20 years.
He, along with last admin/commissions/councils, is very much to blame. His historic and former downtown area plans haven't produced much, have discouraged many possible businesses, and wasted millions in local taxpayer $$.

And personally, I like the guy. Just disagree with the direction he prefers for the city.
+ I ? How he originally spent the grant $$ when he was in charge. Time for a lot if changes around here regardless of who becomes the next city manager.

So--where is Mtown29?
Screen name change?


STILL WANT TO QUESTION WHICH SIDE OF THE FENCE SW IS ON? SW'S COMMENTS SEEM TO TAKE THE SIDE IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY BUILDING GANG, DON'T THEY?

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I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.


Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 7:56pm
Originally posted by acclaro acclaro wrote:

<font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" size="3">Respectfully.... you said he/she supported Adkins, that was untrue.

Perplexed indicated he knew the vouchers came from Neil and Olson, and not Kohler, and I assume he was in a position as an employee, to know.

I error on the side of facts.




"Respectfully.... you said he/she supported Adkins, that was untrue."

NO, I SAID HE SUPPORTED THE INNER SANCTUM AS A GROUP, NOT CITING ADKINS IN A SINGULAR FASHION. ADKINS JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE FOCAL POINT IN THIS DEBATE. PERHAPS MY POST WAS UNCLEAR AS TO INTENTIONS. IF SO, THAT IS MY FAULT.

-------------
I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 7:57pm

City staff most responsible for the unwarranted escalation of HUD Housing Choice Vouchers are: Ron Olson (City Manager), Neil Barille (Planning Director and Angela Tucker (Community Development Coordinator). However, Marty Kohler did tell me on several occasions how the expanded Section 8 program was rejuvenating and stabilizing Ward 2. You may be surprised to hear me say this, but, it is the truth. Marty was on staff only when the last Housing Choice Vouchers were requested by the city and approved by HUD.

Thank you Perplexed
I believe this statement brings us full circle in our discussion of the Section 8 Program.

Has the Section 8 Program DEVISTATED the City of
Middletown as Mr. Adkins has stated?

Or has the Section 8 Program rejuvenated and stabilized Ward 1 and Ward 2?

If City Hall had been frugal and used the HUD funds in the areas of greatest need would we even be discussing this program and these areas today?

Or has the Section 8 Program become the whipping post for City Hall because of their failed plans, wasteful spending and lack of leadership over the past 15 years?


When it comes to other plans and expenditures of CDBG and HOME funds prior to 2007, my sentiments are well known and documented.



Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 8:16pm
Perplexed indicated he knew the vouchers came from Neil and Olson, and not Kohler, and I assume he was in a position as an employee, to know.
I error on the side of facts.

No No Acclaro
I believe the HUD documents that requested the increases in vouchers that I saw were signed by 
Neil Barille, Angela Tucker and Marty Kohler...
Olson may have signed off at the bottom as City Manager


Posted By: Perplexed
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 9:04pm
Start by contacting the City Clerk to obtain minutes of City Council meetings from 1999-2005. Therewith you can find pertinent City Council actions on forthcoming HUD applications for additional HCV units. Again, according to your research, most of these actions took place between 1999-2005. Marty Kohler may also have these records.


Posted By: Perplexed
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 9:07pm
In all matters pertaining to HUD, the City Council is always considered the applicant for the City of Middletown. Thus, it is inconceivable that City Council members from 1999-2005 were unaware of these requests for additional HCV units.


Posted By: Cooper
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 9:21pm
Time out.

Lots of folks playing smash mouth on Vivian Moon.

Doug Adkins is the one who declared the city of Middletown to be 54% or more in poverty to spread NSP funds.

He wants the vouchers to be reduced, but the administration to stay in place in Middletown.

A city has 54 % or greater in poverty, and the smash mouth players are chasing Vivian Moon.

So 5 % that make greater than 100,000 annually are in an uproar, Middletown has poverty, and want the vouchers lowered to get rid of the low lives.

Look in the mirror.

You see a reflection. Its a hypocrite.

  


Posted By: Neil Barille
Date Posted: May 20 2014 at 10:11pm
I know nothing. I see nothing.


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: May 21 2014 at 11:30am

SWOH75 - All that Vivian and Nelson (in all of his incarnations here) seem to do is post hearsay/gossips/rumors.  Until I see proof of wrong-doing in print, I'll reserve judgement on the HUD matter.  

Posted: 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, 2013

MIDDLETOWN

HUD finds ‘deficiencies’ in Middletown’s action plan

By  http://www.journal-news.com/staff/michael-d-pitman/" rel="nofollow - Staff Writer

    MIDDLETOWN — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has rejected Middletown’s plan to eliminate more than 1,000 subsidized housing vouchers — also known as Section 8 — over the next five years because the proposal failed to meet the federal agency’s statutory or regulatory requirements, officials said.

    HUD informed the city of its decision in a June 13 letter that outlined five “substantive” deficiencies within the city’s five-year and annual plan. A recurring criticism of the plan from HUD was that the city had not done enough to consider the impact of the voucher reductions on low-income families with children, minorities and persons with disabilities or to fully justify their actions.

    The federal housing agency made several recommendations about how city officials could address the identified deficiencies and gave them until mid-August (roughly 60 days) to make corrections and respond back.

    The letter, which was presented to City Council members Tuesday, comes as HUD is preparing for a three-day visit to Middletown next week for a Civil Rights Compliance review of the city’s Section 8 program.

    City Council and administrators have argued that Middletown has more low-income, subsidized housing per capita than any city in Ohio, and that it is putting a strain on city services and negatively impacting Middletown’s image and economic development efforts. Section 8 housing accounts for 14.3 percent of Middletown’s total housing stock. City officials proposed cut of 1,008 vouchers would bring that number closer to 10 percent, which they maintain is ideal.

    Most council members interviewed Tuesday by The Journal said they weren’t surprised by HUD’s response and said they still support efforts to curb the number of Section 8 vouchers by 60 percent. But Councilman A.J. Smith, who has been a constant dissenting voice on the issue, said he still believes the city should stop the reduction attempt.

    “What I want to see is the (Middletown Public Housing Agency) is being run efficiently and effectively, and it’s serving those folks that it’s supposed to serve,” Smith said. “No more and no less; and that’s not what we are doing right now.”

    Smith said he would rather have the Butler Metropolitan Housing Authority take over the city’s Section 8 program so it can give voucher holders more piece of mind, and city staff can focus its time on other things. The city’s 1,662 Section 8 vouchers is nearly double the combined number of Section 8 vouchers in Butler County.

    In August 2012, HUD had a review of the city’s Section 8 program, and in September 2012, the agency asked the city for an action plan “given the extremely low leasing percentages and virtual absence of a waiting list.” The city only had 89.3 percent of its vouchers filled and the federal requirement was to have 95 percent of them filled.

    HUD also wanted an action plan to address the city’s late and undocumented housing inspections.

    The latter of the two plans requested was sent to HUD in December after it was approved by the Middletown Public Housing Agency, which consists of the seven-member City Council. HUD, which “disapproved” the five-year and annual plan, sent its response on June 13 citing the five deficiencies and suggested remedies to the city’s 6-page action plan.

    The former of the two plans was submitted to HUD in October after the MPHA voted 6-1 to support the plan authored by Community Revitalization Director Doug Adkins. The plan states the city needs to eliminate more than 60 percent of its vouchers over the next five years, which was reflected in the five-year and annual plan.

    HUD spokeswoman Donna White offered no comment beyond the June 13 letter saying, “At this point, the letter speaks for itself.”

    City Manager Judy Gilleland said staff is working on a response “and will provide it in a timely manner.” She offered no comment specific to the letter.

    The June 13 letter from HUD “shows that we have some work to do” in making the city’s case for its stance, said Mayor Larry Mulligan.

    “HUD has its mission to fulfill, which is certainly important, and we’re trying to focus on the needs of the Middletown community and all of our citizens and to strike that balance to support and sustain without crippling the entire city,” the mayor said. “It’s a careful balance and that’s a message we have to work with HUD to fully explain.”

    Vice Mayor Dan Picard said he is “concerned” about the letter, but doesn’t regret the city’s direction in eliminating 1,008 vouchers.

    “I am very concerned about what’s going on, the potential costs and it’s something we need to stay on top of,” he said. “I think we’re doing what we have to do, and I hope that we get to the point where we want to be, and I have confidence we can. I’m just concerned what it’s going to take to get there.”

    The city’s costs in attempting to essentially give back Section 8 vouchers to HUD, Picard said, will be significant. Outside counsel has been retained to prepare for the Civil Rights Compliance review by HUD next week, and staff has spent countless hours in responding to HUD’s correspondence.

    The city’s Section 8 program receives about $10 million from HUD, which is tied to the number of vouchers held by the city. Millions of dollars are paid to Section 8 landlords. Only a few hundred thousand dollars goes to the city, which is split with Nelson & Associates which manages the program.


UNMATCHED COVERAGE

The Middletown Journal has been the only consistent news agency covering the debate between the U.S. Housing and Urban Development and the city of Middletown about reducing 1,008 Section 8 vouchers.

PLAN DEFICIENCIES

The letter cities five “deficiencies” of the plan and have provided suggested remedies:

·                       MPHA must examine its actions and its impact on families with children, minorities and persons with disabilities. Of the 1,662 vouchers, 675 are designated for the non-elderly disabled population and only 417 of those are issued. HUD is requesting records that outline actions taken by the city to further fair housing and any impediments the city have experienced.

·                       The MPHA’s mission statement “does not adequately address” the mission for serving the needs of low income, very low income and extremely low income families for the next five years. Any mission statement must include how the city will service the needs of families that fall into these classifications during that time frame.

·                       The MPHA’s goals and objectives do not address serving low income, very low income and extremely low income families over the next five years. The city needs to include how it will service the needs of the families during that time frame.

·                       The city did not identify the housing needs of low income, very low income and extremely low income families, including the elderly, families with disabilities, households of various races and ethnic groups, and other families on the Section 8 waiting list. The city needs to provide that data.

·                       Because housing needs were not identified, stating the “MPHA does not anticipate opening the waiting list due to be over leased and over budget authority” is not accurate. The city needs to provide a strategy to service the housing needs of the city.

Council reactions

Middletown City Council members react to the HUD letter that spells out five deficiencies with its five-year and annual plan, which outlines its intent to reduce 1,008 Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers from the MPHA program.

Mayor Larry Mulligan: “The bottom line is, it shows that we have some work to do yet to explain our case and our rationale for it. HUD has its mission to fulfill which is certainly important, and we’re trying to focus on the needs of the Middletown community and all of our citizens and to strike that balance to support and sustain without crippling the entire city.”

Councilwoman Anita Scott Jones: “I’m not surprised by anything that was in there (the letter). HUD has its job to do and I trust that if there is something that we need to do that (Community Revitalization Director) Doug (Adkins) and all of those involved will do it.”

Councilwoman Ann Mort: “It’s another step in the process. We are trying to work our way down that process and I’m sure not too many folks have asked to go in the other direction.”

Councilman A.J. Smith: “I’m not surprised. This is exactly what I anticipated, which is why I didn’t support it (in October).”

Vice Mayor Dan Picard: “I m very concerned about what’s going on, the potential costs and it’s something we need to stay on top of. I have no regrets at all (in MPHA’s decision). I think we’re doing what we have to do and I hope that we get to the point we want to be, and I have confidence we can. I’m just concerned what it’s going to take to get there.”

Council members Josh Laubach and Joe Mulligan could not be reached for comment.



Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: May 21 2014 at 12:42pm
I think this is beginning to come clear, if Dougie convinces council we didn't do any thing wrong then council will give him a green light to continue this path with HUD. Doug worked for the gov't so he knows how slow it's works so how convenient for Dougie he'll have job security. Boy, he sure can spin it can't he. IMO


Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: May 21 2014 at 4:23pm
 I don't mean to jump into this HUD mess, but I would like to make some points associated with observation.
It seems there are few people who have an axe to grind with Doug Adkins. For all I know, or others, maybe its justified, maybe its not. But, I have a confession. This talk about going to jail, wrongdoing, breaking the bank on legal fees, and transfer to another county of HUD vouchers or to keep them, is giving alot of people a serious headache.
 
If you don't know anymore than " I heard it from someone", "an insider told me this", or "rumor has it", its gone, could you just put a lid on it for a month or so? It just seems pretty darn clear city hall likes Doug Adkins, and many times, the devil you know, is better than the devil you don't.
 
My migraine would be appreciative. 


Posted By: Paul Nagy
Date Posted: May 21 2014 at 5:56pm
Dean,
As much as I liked your comments on "Vote For levy" I think you crossed the line on this one. Now, you have indeed jumped into this HUD mess. As far as Doug Adkins is concerned there are people who have much much against him that is justified and I wouldn't say from my understanding of their opposition to him that they are necessarily "grinding an axe".  In recent years there has been a lot of corruption and many of us know of it first hand. I was challenged once to bring proof otherwise it was just hearsay. Well, the problem is that those who commit political corruption have families. So, some of us refuse to take it to court even though we know we have the evidence and strong cases but we cannot in good conscience do it because they indeed would do some jail time and pay some money that would negatively impact their families as they have hurt citizens  families for many years.
           Otherwise, I think that those like you who want to put a lid on it for a month and have just recently come to the forum should not put a lid on it any longer and should get involved as soon and as thoroughly as possible and as quickly as possible. Thats' what makes democracy work and thats' what makes this great forum work.
         If this talk is giving some people headaches my recommendation is to take two baby aspirins and then do your homework like involved citizens and don't be apathetic any longer regarding our local government. We should have heard from you long before this.
         The devil we know has done more than enough to hurt this city and its taxpayers in many ways and is far more dangerous than any  "devil" we might get otherwise.
         City hall may not be infatuated with Doug Adkins. It could very well be that under the circumstances they are too weak to get rid of him. I hope not and they will soon do the right thing.
         Dean, maybe it is not a migraine you have. Maybe, your political consciousness is coming alive and its a new line of thinking you're getting involved with. I hope so. Thank you for your post and please keep on.
         Paul Nagy
         


Posted By: over the hill
Date Posted: May 21 2014 at 7:07pm
Yes PN you've said it very deplomaticly I on the other would like to see Dean do some investigating on his own or I'm sorry but if it gives you a headache thenTURN IT OFF. IMO


Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: May 22 2014 at 7:53am
Re: PN & OTH,

Hear, hear!!!


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“Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012



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